Best Ball
A team format where each player plays their own ball and the lowest score among teammates counts for each hole.
What does best ball mean in golf?
Best ball is one of golf's most popular team formats, particularly in casual play and charity tournaments. Each player in a team completes every hole independently, and the team records the best (lowest) individual score. The format encourages aggressive play since each golfer has the safety net of their teammates' scores. Best ball is often confused with scramble, but they are different — in a scramble, all players hit from the same spot after selecting the best shot.
GolfN Tip: Set up best ball and other side games directly in GolfN before your round — scoring is tracked automatically.
Download GolfN free →Related Golf Terms
Scramble
A team format where all players hit from the same spot after selecting the best shot from the group on each stroke.
Match Play
A competition format where players or teams compete hole by hole, with the winner being whoever wins the most individual holes.
Nassau
A popular betting format that divides the round into three separate matches: front nine, back nine, and overall 18.
Foursome
A match format where two teams of two players each share one ball per team, taking alternating shots.
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